Greek life really deserves a lot more credit than it is given. Typically, when people think about Greek life they think about hazing, partying, and guys and girls hooking up with one another. In reality, it’s honestly so much more than that. I can’t really speak for fraternities because I am obviously a girl, but I can tell you the main idea of a sorority.

Going through the recruitment process is confusing, emotional, and one of the best weekends of your life! You meet so many new people, connect with each other, and eventually find your “forever home.” It’s an adrenaline rush. Meeting with each sorority on campus, learning about how each one runs, what each group stands for, and finding out what group of girls makes your heart so happy that it could almost explode with love and excitement.

Being in sorority, you do not pay for your friends. It is often said that I pay for my friends, but really I would never have enough money in the world to pay for the bonds and life-long friendships I have made in my sorority. You spend so much time with this one group of girls. Yes, things get a little hectic sometimes, attitudes come out, feelings get hurt, and anger rises, but you will get that anytime you put 30+ girls together, whether it’s a sorority, a party, a group in high school or whatever else. But at the end of the day, we all love one another, we would practically kill for each other, and we never give up on one another. I have a group of girls that continue to increase, that I love with every bone in my body and would do anything for them. I have someone to call at 3 a.m. because I am upset or need a ride, and I know they will be there for me. I have potential bridesmaids to celebrate my big day with me. I have people who call me and need me and they actually want me to be there for them. I would not trade any day, good or bad, that I get to be with my sisters, and I know I always have people that will love me and be there for me, just like I would do for them.

Also, being in sorority has allowed me to be a part of something bigger than myself. Each sorority has philanthropy, some have more than one. Philanthropy is a national organization that each sorority represents. We have fundraisers for that organization: as in 5k runs, workshops, crafts, food drives, and much more, that we do to help and raise awareness. We don’t only help support our own philanthropy, we become involved in other sorority philanthropies, to help them raise awareness and support them as well. It opens up so many doors for our future. We help people, we help one another, we put hard work, time and effort into each and every event we have and we do our best to work together, making ourselves and philanthropy proud!

I use the word “we” a lot in this article. That's because we are united. All of Greek life. All around the world. No matter what people think about us, or what bad thing is said about us, we know what we stand for, we know our purpose, and we know the families we have become a part of. We are so much more than what people think and deserve more than we get. We have good days and bad days, but in the end, we all have the same thing in common; we all chose Greek life. As I like to say, even if we each chose different homes, we all live in the same neighborhood. That is what makes Greek life so special. You are a part of something so big, with so much opportunity, with so much love, and you learn so much about yourself that you wouldn’t have ever learned before. So, go Greek, and I promise you won’t regret it!